Church in crisis: The Vatican responds

Homosexuality and the Catholic Church

Veteran journalist on papacy in crisis

Homosexuality is “the ticking time bomb in the Catholic Church,” a former Dominican friar told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Monday.

Mark Dowd, who is himself openly gay, spoke to Amanpour as a blitz of new scandals hit the Catholic Church, just days before Pope Benedict XVI is set to step down from the papacy.

The Vatican announced on Monday that the archbishop of Scotland is resigning, a day after British newspapers published accusations of decades-long sexual misconduct with other priests. An American Cardinal is facing fresh allegations of covering up abuse. And Italian newspapers over the weekend published sordid accounts of homosexuality and blackmail within the Church hierarchy.

That last allegation, of a secret “cabal” of gay priests, has been dubbed the “Vati-leaks” scandal.

“When you have this culture of secrecy and guilt and repression,” Dowd said, “you have conditions which foster the potential for blackmail and for manipulation.”

Dowd, who is now a journalist, said that gay men are “massively over-represented” within the Church.

“About half,” he said, “if not more, of all the people attracted into seminaries in the priesthood are gay themselves.”

Dowd said the basis for his claim was on- and off-the-record conversations with members of the Church, as well as personal experience.

“We don’t know all of the details; we know what’s been reported to us by the papers,” Father Tom Rosica, an assistant Vatican spokesperson, told Amanpour. “Certainly this is not a pleasant moment for the entire church. When one member suffers, all of us suffer.”

The suffering certainly does not seem to be abating. The Church’s child sex-abuse scandal has been building in recent years, but Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation seems to have invited the deepest reckoning yet.

Veteran Vatican journalist Marco Politi, speaking with Amanpour in Rome, called Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation “the last act of a series of crises.”

“He had, from the beginning, crises with Islam, crises with the Jews, crises with the world of the science because of the condom and HIV,” Politi said. “And finally, the great Vati-leaks crisis: These secret documents about corruption in the Vatican, about struggles between Cardinals, about disease and opposition against his secretary of state, and about lack of transparency of the Vatican Bank. This certainly was pushing him to accelerate his resignation.”

Nonetheless, Politi dismissed the idea of a “gay cabal,” as reported over the weekend by la Repubblica and Panorama, emphasizing that no one has actually seen the report.

“The idea of a gay cabal is rubbish,” he said. “Here in the Vatican, there are monsignors who have love affairs, with women and with men. But they hide it. They are liberals or conservatives, but certainly they don’t act like a gay lobby.”

Politi said that when Cardinal Ratzinger was elevated to the papacy, he wanted to “turn a new page” on the sex abuse scandal.

“He understood how deep this problem was,” Politi said. “But he has not had the courage to order all the bishops to open the archives to see the hidden victims, which are still thousands and thousands all over the world.”

The sex abuse scandal weighed heavily on the Pope, Dowd said. He recounted an interview he conducted several years ago with Pope Benedict XVI’s brother, Georg Ratzinger.

“He said [Pope Benedict XVI] was basically lying awake at night sweating and worrying about it,” Dowd said, “and that actually in terms of his own emotional health it taken a great toll on him.”

As to whether reformers can hope for a more liberal Pope in the future, Dowd was optimistic.

“In my experience,” he said, “the Catholic Church is always liable to surprise.”

the real salvation of the Catholic Church is its lay people and working religious- priests, nuns, and brothers, who live Christlike lives as much as they are able. the leadership needs to wash the feet of the ordinary Catholics and learn from them.

The chickens have come home to roost, as the saying goes. This has been a long time coming–the exposure of this massively corrupt and perverted bureaucracy of the Catholic church. They could get away with it in the past, but with the global nature of the media, they can no longer hide. I feel so sorry for Catholics, who, for the most part, have been ripped off for decades, centuries really, by their church who has sucked money out their pockets.

February 25, 2013 at 10:08 pm |

Chippy

No you are wrong there a worse cult – Islam

February 25, 2013 at 11:10 pm |

Jeff

ALL religions are a cult by definition and in practice. The organized crime syndicate that the Catholic church is and other religions should be outlawed. Why do they continue to be allowed to generate billions of dollars of revenues and not pay any taxes? It is obscene to continue this fleecing of the American taxpayer.

February 26, 2013 at 12:11 am |

Adevilson

Jeff, organized religions were invented by the powerful to control the masses. Of course that they are and will remain allowed in society, because they serve (pretty well) their purpose.

February 26, 2013 at 7:17 am |

bobpitt

The notion that the next life will be better is the attraction to religion; only the naïve would believe the promises of a better afterlife, yet no one can prove exist. There is no one religion that do not promises something attainable during the existence on earth.

February 26, 2013 at 8:33 am |

The End of Idiocy

I will gladly give you a dollar next Tuesday for a hamburger today. This is the scam of afterlife and religion. The scary part is that there are so many billions dim enough to buy it.

February 26, 2013 at 9:34 am |

Ahoj2You

You sound like dissatisfied customers. So why don't you do something about it instead of the blah, blah, blah which is really boring ...

February 26, 2013 at 9:35 am |

anthonyhantonh

@ Jim Wangsness. Yeah how dare the church suck money out of people's pockets. That the giverments job.

February 26, 2013 at 10:23 am |

tronald Dump

Jeff, organized religions were invented by the powerful to control the masses. Of course that they are and will remain allowed in society, because they serve (pretty well) their purpose. -– please cite your sources, i'm interested in reading about the intentional creation of religions and cults, this was not known to me as being fact.

February 26, 2013 at 11:16 am |

Christy

So by your reasoning, the public education system is a joke, since an even higher percentage of teachers than catholic priests abuse children.

By your logic, LETS NOT SEND OUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL ANYMORE!!

February 26, 2013 at 10:36 pm |

Wale Obiakor

What sad life you must have. Having met only catholics that are rapist and perverts. There are others you must meet. Who live their christian lives very well and are very likeable. They are the ones you need to encouter to find Joy. Every human is free to make decisions, and the behavior of a few must not be affect the majority. That is common sense. I hope you find happiness, because you really need one to love you truly. The same goes for all other religions. They have persons who are good and bad. Find love.

idis o, you must be JW for sure. Yes, the Catholics got it all wrong when it comes to making up doctrines and misinterpreting the whole Bible, but one thing (of the few) they got it right, along with all the other religions. There is Trinity. Yes, the word does not appear but there are multiple facts in the Bible that show that there is indeed a Trinity Deity. By the way, the JW have chenged on purpose many versicles, which speak of delicate subjects that prove against many of their doctrines, like this one who talk about

February 26, 2013 at 12:45 pm |

Christy

La Trinidad es falso??? Que?!

February 26, 2013 at 10:38 pm |

Rodrigo Borgia

Hey, as long as it's among guys and not little boys, let the party begin!

It's amazing that an organization that has for centuries recruited only single men who enjoy dressing in fancy clothes and have no desire to marry a women could ever be infiltrated by the gays. Who could have foreseen this?

These senior Catholic clergy have been using their Red Capes to cover colossal abuse over the centuries. They have been using propaganda such as letting people get stuck into Islam to act as a smoke screen for their deviant activities.

We need to remember that the problem with the Roman Catholic Church is NOT that 50% of those applying for the priesthood are gay but that the majority of them have their emotional development arrested at the age of 12.

darkmoonman – That is true the teachings of the church repressed many emotionally by the time they were 12. Many who joined the the priesthood and became nuns from the poor countries were from large families, like Ireland. There was no outlet for men and women when they grew up, other than keep farming a barren land, marry and have children they couldn't afford to raise and feed. If they received any education, they could teach or become a nurse if any jobs were available, if not the men became priests and nuns in droves – many brothers and sisters from the same family. They had a roof over their heads, clothes for their backs and food for their bodies, but they worked for it. Many were educated in different fields – others became like laborers for the church and the hierarchy. The planted and harvested the food, cleaned and cooked, waited on all the ones above them. Put in catholic schools to teach and in catholic hospitals to take care of the sick – for no salary, but the church received money for their labor for their coffers. They had been taught it was the right thing to do – for their SALVATION. Let's hope God does right by the good ones – as the church doesn't – especially the nuns. The women aren't high on their list, sort of like the republican political party.

That's really the point: ignorance and lack of birth control grew this cult after the fall of Rome.
Vatican Inc. had a good run, better and longer than it deserved.
Were it not for Pedophiles 'R' Us within that religious corporation, it might've gone on for another thousand years content to just smack around everything female. How and why any female would have anything ti do with this bizarre misogynist cult of deranged men is a complete mystery. Was the Inquisition not a big enough tip off of what was to come?

February 26, 2013 at 7:21 pm |

Chippy

The Muslims will love this scandal, now they will be able to murder in the the name of Allah and nobody will notice!

I don't quite see the connection between what's happening to the Catholic church and Islam as you've written above. I won't be surprised though if some practicing Catholics were to explore other religions due to this embarrassing situation, and Islam would be one of the obvious options, of course.

My sympathies to sincere Catholics who must be feeling disillusioned at this point in time. I hope this issue will not be used to attack religion and faith in God.

Very well put.
Too much concern on who is right, the most powerful, the most corrupt, the most suppressed, who is in control etcetc,
and the whole simple message is missed.

Gay Priests?
Read the Bible better dudes.

February 26, 2013 at 9:16 am |

Susan StoHelit

I think you could consider that religion and faith in God can be two different things. The problem here is the power that organized religion gives people, and how that can be abused – faith in god, and belief in a particular god can be separated from organized religion.

February 26, 2013 at 12:41 pm |

Crystal Ball

Yes ... expect to see a "spike" in the number of Catholics leaving their church for others Christian churches and also for Islam. This will be a trend at least for the medium term.

Those who remain Catholics will most probably become less Catholic, until their church is revamped, re-organized, "cleaned", etc. The new Pope will need to make tough decisions to redeem their faith.

February 26, 2013 at 1:37 pm |

Farid

Chippy,
You sound like you have a real bigotry against Muslims. If it was Jews that you were commenting on, there would be real outrage at your remarks, but of course, Muslims make easy targets for someone like you. I, like 99.99% of my fellow 1.6 billion Muslims have never killed or threatened to kill anyone, but we can always rely on people like you to try to make us feel less than human.

Just for the record, I don't feel less human after reading his comment. Nether should you. We should remember what the Qur'an mentioned Surah al-Kaafirun when reading such remarks. God knows best. Salam.

February 26, 2013 at 2:11 pm |

sagala

By Russian Rasputin, may be know this case in the monastery hundred years ago.

A few years ago I had a very special behind the scenes tour of the Vatican – walking right up to the Papal apt – as well as out on the roof. The person giving me the tour talked openly about an open "secret" of an apartment in Rome where the Pope had his cats – and young men. I can't say true or not – just seems the rot starts at the top, and something bigger then a broom is needed.

The Catholic Church is in desperate need of reformation. Oh wait, didn't that already happen? Anyway, I am just glad the incident being referred to was between consenting adults. The hypocrisy of the Church is blatantly apparent but I think any powerhouse religion will have deep rooted problems due to the corruption that naturally arises with money/power.

It is time that people start being more careful where charity money is going to... We all have a responsibility, please stop donating money and putting the moral responsibility on other people to make sure that it gets to the right place. I am now giving to local janitors and cleaners. Also, tipping waitresses and waiters very well. This is a better way to give my money away and ensure it does not go to corrupt priests/mullahs/pagodas/etc.....

Your approach to helping others is far more practical, efficient and effective than giving it to a bloated organization. I stopped giving to the United Way 2 or 3 decades ago when the president was found to be living a lavish lifestyle using the organization's money. They blew their ONE chance with me as have many "charities".

Jeff: The past abuses at the national United Way were dealt with long ago. Local United Way organizations are a great way to help a community; the dollars stay in your town and the programs funded are thoroughly evaluated – if they do not perform the funding stops and a better program is funded very quickly. I have done a lot of charity work; please consider the local United Way if you want to make your community stronger for everyone.

Most Catholics I know aren't "birds of feather," rather we are birds wondering what in the hell happened to our nest! I found comfort and peace in the Church when I was young; now I won't step foot in a Catholic church. My faith still guides me, because the roots are deep. But I feel betrayed and deserted by those who were supposed to be our spiritual leaders.

All press and Media Arabs leader and G20 leader at. Headquarters of All association
AND ELECTRONIC VOTE. CONTROLL BY CONGRESS.
A TO Z + 8. QUEEN + 8
Royal wedding. And royal security force 10 generation total cost $ 57 trillion
Each every politician rolling 8 years only just like chess board Game.
But queen family rolling 10 generation y

I am also Happy to kill osma bin laden
Turing point of global Economy. Islam not allowed to be Terrorist and Terrorist people are not a Muslim
1. Please avoid war. Day by Day war cost increase $ 3.5 trillion
2. Global economy and food price every Day increase
3. International job less unemployment Y. All businessmen effected business.
4. Global financial crisis every CNC manufacture. New technology energy product Effected FDI investors.
5. Every Day OPEC Oil Price Increase
6. World poverty problem. Bankrupt 170 Bank overalls 87000 Branch
7. Each every single man Effected
8. Ignore future Death million of already Death
9. Million of People Wounded
10. Global environment climate will be change this will lead Global Agriculture problem

Sub: Prosecution of previous President Mr. George W.Bush, for violation of International Code of Conduct.
Mr. George W.Bush, the previous President of United States of America, initiated a war against IRAQ, without obtaining the previous sanction of United Nations Organization (UNO) on the pretext of having nuclear weapons, even though the then IRAQ government openly exhibited to the whole world that it has no nuclear weapons.
According to the CNN WORLD report, in the war 6, 75,000 civilians killed, 7500 troops of USA and its allied forces killed 3 25 000 people wounded and $ 3.5 Trillion Dollar spent for the war. This spending of $ 3.5 Trillion Dollar is the main cause of action for the present economic crises prevailing all over the world.
After winning the war against IRAQ, the United States of America’s President Mr. George W.Bush, also admitted the same fact, and he openly stated that the Intelligence agency misguided him.
Later on, even the United Nations Organization (UNO) also certified that the IRAQ has no nuclear weapons.
Then it is the bounded duty of the United States of America and its allied forces to withdraw from IRAQ.
But instead of withdrawing from IRAQ, the United States of America and its allied forces formed a government in IRAQ, under their control and administered the entire IRAQ, and its peoples.
This indicates a clear violation of duty by the President of United States of America Mr. George W.Bush and also a clear case of violation of the International Code of Conduct for UNO members.
Thus Mr. George W.Bush attracts prosecution for the above said offence.
Thus I hereby pray this Hon’ble Court initiate criminal proceedings against Mr. George W. Bush, and give him maximum punishment for
a) initiating the war against the IRAQ
b) killing its innocent IRAQI peoples civilian 6, 75 000
c) Killing troops of USA and allied forces and 7 500
d) The present economic crises.
e) 3 25 000 civilian and coalition 39 000 wounded
Dated on this day of 13th day of April, 2009.
Yours truly, (M.S.MOHAMED ANSARI)
COPY TO
The Chief Justice, the International Court of Justice, The Hague, Netherlands.
The Secretary General United Nations Organization
The Chief Justice, the Supreme Court, IRAQ.
His Excellency Mr.Barack Obama, the President of United States of America, White House, Washington D.C.

This is just signs of the End times, i mean, even till the very last minute, people still didnt believe Noah, even though they saw him build and fill up the ark, the bible says, during the end times the love of many shall wax cold, and it seems nobody is actually seeing what is going on here, the devil is trying to keep people from God, and what does he do? he attacks the majority, First the catholic church with absurd accusations to make the 1.3 billion faithful doubt their faith, and then Islam, where the devil is trying to make Islam synonymous with Terrorism, all this during a period in which gay marriages are becoming welcomed and a common thing, people fight with the top of their lungs to own weapons of destruction like guns, even though they clearly see the evil in it, countries starve the population to finance nuclear programs, and the value of life is now less than that of a metallic grenade pin.,
if the people of the world would wake up, open their eyes and see what really is going on, and repent before its too late.

Even today nobody with a brain believes in Noah, never mind the "end times". Just do the math and you will realize there is no possible way for any of that story to be close to true. It's a child's story, only believed by people with the minds of children.

People have been predicting the end times happening immediately, ever since before the Bible was put down on paper – the early Christians were told it was happening in their lifetime, and had far more 'signs' than we do. Same old same old.

When you look for signs, you see them, anytime. So why are you so hoping for the world to end, and billions of people to be condemned to torture that is unimaginably horrible and worse than anything in this world? Seems a sick thing to look forward to.

Orientation has been questioned in the recent past wonder if the same issue was there in history to me its more of how one is internally its common to see exceptions in this but overall lets not create new rules for the same its always a hot and debatable topic as who is right and who is wrong well then have a look at the majority and have the bills passed accordingly new centuries and new challenges wonder how far we can go to change them to suit our need....

I really admire Amanpour. I do. I admire her courage, her deep knowledge of current affairs, etc. But then, she fails to see that sometimes she overdoes it: If she really wanted to show the true state of affairs in the Catholic Church, why interviewing a former friar, who is openly gay (and therefore should, by the rules of the Church, have never been a friar.) Naturally this person will see the world through his warped vision: "Half of the priests are gay", he says. Does it not look as not being very objective? Should we not give room to thinking that perhaps there are people who really love Christ and who truly want to give their lives for others in a life of celibacy? Why should we fall into the trap of thinking that it cannot possibly be true that people actually believe the teachings of the Catholic Church, which they hold as the true church founded by Christ, in spite of their personal shortcomings? I am a muslim educated in a Catholic school, and I have witnessed the sacrifice of these people first hand. They did not force me to become a Catholic, and I did not. But I have a deep respect for their beliefs which translate into service to others, into making this world a better place.

I would not have been able to find a better answer as you did. i have priests in my family who have spent their lives amongst the tribals in India and far of villages where most in their right sense would not dare to venture.

Celibacy is not just related to being married or not married, celibacy is basically giving up what you crave the most and finding greater love in the joys of others

Your response resonated with me. As a child I grew up in the Catholic faith with a single mom who always said "as long as you believe in God , that is the main thing". So I grew up to join the Baha'i Faith and felt perfectly comfortable doing so, because my mom had, in a way, laid out the unity principle, that there is one God and whatever we believe is okay, as long as we believe in God.
I am not unhappy that things are being uncovered that lead to a questioning/weakening of authority in the Catholic Church.....the truth needs to be told and all the Catholic body needs to grow up and think a bit for themselves.

“He understood how deep this problem was,” Politi said. “But he has not had the courage to order all the bishops to open the archives to see the hidden victims, which are still thousands and thousands all over the world.”

The Pope is a coward and needs to be held responsible. He is possibly the only man on earth that knows the full extent of the child rape problem. He was John Paul II's point man on this problem and he has sat on the info instead of giving it to local authorities for investigation. For that he should go to prison for covering up thousands of cases of child rape.

Absolute power corrupts. Corruption is rot and decay. Rome is once again falling. Only this time it is not the Pagan Rome. It won't fall all at once – but it will either evolve or turn to dust by going underground or losing most of its following.

CNN AND AMANPOUR PLEASE LEAVE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ALONE AND LOOK FOR OTHER ISSUES TO REPORT WITH YOUR BIASED SECTIONALISED JOURNALISM? Ure negetive reporting can never affect the strong church of God and its valhes.

The Church has always been about power, and that remains true today. In Köln Catholic hospitals turned away a rape victim. Can you see Jesus doing that? In the US the Church openly lobbies to restrict the rights of the LGBTQ community. Can you see Jesus doing that? In short, the Church is not remotely about the things their supposed founder supported. It is, instead, all about power, and always has been. Today, the situation is much the same, and the real fear inside the Church...inside the Vatican...is the fear of losing power, not any concern for the people who seek moral guidance. Sooner or later folks are going to figure that out, but it's becoming more and more obvious every day.

Whether your an atheist, or not. Based on what the Bibles says, there is no "CATHOLIC Church". There is only ONE Church (and if people would dust off their bibles a read it they'll see FOR THEMSELVES instead of just believing what they’ve been told by “priest” ) The ONE AND ONLY Church was founded by Jesus Christ, upon the confession of Peter that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God. The Church began on the day of Pentecost When 3000 people were filled with the Spirit of God. Now, again whether you believe the bible, or you think is a fairy tale. That up to you. I am NOT going to debate, or condemn anyone. BUT THIS is what the bible says, and this CAN NOT be refuted. There is NO pope in the Bible, there is NO Cardinals in the Bible. There is NO MAN but Jesus Christ that was EVER called “Holy Father”, NOBODY EVER prayed to Marry, ONLY to Jesus Christ who claimed to be God wrapped in flash. Just need to set the record straight for those who don’t know. For those who may not have the time to read the Bible for themselves. These things are NOT found in the bible These group of men are "Catholics" that’s it. Anything that’s outside of the teachings of Jesus Christ, and his disciples is 1000% FALSE. Again, whether you believe the bible or not this is what its says about the “Church”. The catholic organization have adulterated Christianity, and ANYONE who reads the bible, being an Atheist or not would CLEARLY see.

Actually, the word catholic means "Universal", as in one church. The very example you give is the basis of Catholicism. What people do not realize is that there is a real Catholic and Apostolic church in the Eastern Orthodox. The original church had 5 major capitals, Rome being highest in honor. Rome decided that they should be highest in power as well, and we get the Schism. Rome did a fairly good job at eradicating any ties or memory of the east, and the traditions of the Church prior to 1066. Let me assure you that the Orthodox do not have these issues in their priesthood. That's because there is no power in becoming a priest, and the highest ranks are of honor, not power. Just posting this in case anyone would want to be informed of the history of Christianity, and learning about their religion, instead of relying on their own interpretations and insights from the Holy Bible.

Well said. I believe the Roman Catholic Church would do well to move closer to its Eastern Orthodox roots, especially concerning the ordination of married men to the priesthood. The vast majority of Christians are ignorant with respect to the history of Christianity. The Church, (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant) is under attack from internal and external forces. That which God gives to man, Satan seeks to destroy through perversion and corruption. Atheist are quick to point out the failures of Christians in general, and the Roman Catholic Church in particular; however, I know of no great universities, hospitals, or missions, or any organization built and supported by atheist for the advancement and welfare of mankind. Moreover, I never ceased to be amazed how some Protestants criticize the Roman Catholic Church for being “non-biblical” when it is the very church that organized and protected sacred scripture. The bible did not fall out of the sky. It was written by men who were inspired by God but it was the Church, through prayer and the Holy Spirit that decided what texts, out of dozens were in fact the inspired word of God. As a Christian and a Roman Catholic, I am deeply offended and troubled by what is happening at the highest levels of our church and our government; however, my faith remains in Christ and so my response is to pray and to continue to “fight the good fight of the faith” knowing that our God does not judge according to human terms, standards and understanding but according to His power, which is beyond human comprehension, to see what is truly in each person’s heart.
For my brothers and sisters who are atheist and choose not to believe in God or His wisdom, maybe you will at least give consideration to the words of the father of our country, George Washington, in his farewell address:
“Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

February 26, 2013 at 11:13 am |

ljjm

The "books" that we recognize as part of the Bible were chosen by church leaders, while other "books" were not included in the Bible—the Gnostic Gospels and other pieces of literature. So, can we even believe everything in the Bible, since the content was decided on by a group of mortals.

Sola Scriptura is not in the Bible. There was no official canon at the time of Jesus and the disciples, and not even at the time of Paul. If you can't trust *mere men*, how do you know that the Bible is even true? The Church fathers *who referred to the Catholic Church* decided what was in the canon and what wasn't. They wrote the earliest liturgies and decided how penance was to be performed. They also preached that babies were baptized, that the Eucharist is Christ's literal flesh, that schisms and breakaway denominations were not of God. And at that time, asking Mary to pray for us was as Biblical as asking any other Christian to pray for us. Why trust those men with canon of Scripture if you stand against many of their other teachings? You speak like an ignorant fundamentalist.

There are a number of Catholic archbishops for different parts of Scotland. O'Brien was the Archbishop of Edinburgh and St Andrews, not the whole of Scotland. The thing that differentiates him is that he was also a cardinal – the only one in the UK at the moment.

As for this story itself – he has been an outspoken and vitriolic bully towards gay people for decades. Now we know he's a hypocrite as well. Good riddance.

TAX the CHURCHES. TAX the Business's owned by the CHURCHES.. They are no different than the rest of us. They break laws but dont have to pay for them like we do. They hide under secrecy .. This type of stuff occurs in all walks of religion. They should be taxed like the rest of us, especially when they break laws.

A more liberal Pope? Don't count on it. The College of Cardinals is overwhelmingly full of ultra conservative fundamentalists. They will elect one of their own. And that may be just as well for those of us who wish to see the Church's influence diminish.

I did, I did! They gave me a sucker and told me everything would be just fine with the world. But they lied.

February 26, 2013 at 1:12 pm |

Not Just Priests

Catholic Church is a contradiction in faith. Want to keep children safe but hide molesting priests. Against gay marriage but have gay priests and in some dioceses have hired senior lay staff who are gay. Gay teachers in Catholic schools. You can’t hate the sin and love the sinner by inviting them to lead the church. Who’s misleading whom?

Look dude, there are over a billion Catholics. A billion Catholics!! How much babysitting can the Vatican do over 1 billion Catholics?! Do you honestly want to blame the existence of gay priests on the Magisterium? Is it the Magisterium's fault that they're gay?

When I walk in a great church in Europe, something I have done many times, I can't help but think about how many of those saints and other great cardinals featured in statues within the church may have been child molesters and other kinds of child abusers. I have no doubt that the Catholic church has been a nest of pedophiles for centuries.

is the world today going anticlock wise?if the great men of God, the leaders of church, the people we look up to (the cardinals) can nolonger tell themselves the truth that celbacy have failed them, wunded the catholic christian and left the church with somany questions.OH my God, who is fooling who?

If a private corporation committed crimes as horrible as the Catholic Church, they would be charged with criminal acts and put out of business! Why do so many good people continue to support such a criminal empire?

The public education system in America has far more pedophiles than the Catholic Church does. Do you think that all teachers should be imprisoned and fined because of the abuse at the hands of a few percent? Your logic is very flawed.

I believe the Roman Catholic Church would do well to move closer to its Eastern Orthodox roots, especially concerning the ordination of married men to the priesthood. The vast majority of Christians are ignorant with respect to the history of Christianity. The Church, (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant) is under attack from internal and external forces. That which God gives to man, Satan seeks to destroy through perversion and corruption. Atheist are quick to point out the failures of Christians in general, and the Roman Catholic Church in particular; however, I know of no great universities, hospitals, or missions, or any organization built and supported by atheist for the advancement and welfare of mankind. Moreover, I never ceased to be amazed how some Protestants criticize the Roman Catholic Church for being “non-biblical” when it is the very church that organized and protected sacred scripture. The bible did not fall out of the sky. It was written by men who were inspired by God but it was the Church, through prayer and the Holy Spirit that decided what texts, out of dozens were in fact the inspired word of God. As a Christian and a Roman Catholic, I am deeply offended and troubled by what is happening at the highest levels of our church and our government; however, my faith remains in Christ and so my response is to pray and to continue to “fight the good fight of the faith” knowing that our God does not judge according to human terms, standards and understanding but according to His power, which is beyond human comprehension, to see what is truly in each person’s heart.
For my brothers and sisters who are atheist and choose not to believe in God or His wisdom, maybe you will at least give consideration to the words of the father of our country, George Washington, in his farewell address:
“Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

You’re not looking at the big picture, my friend. Yes, the Church has many dark moments in its history, however, overall the Church has been a positive effect on people’s lives. Before Jesus, the world was wicked and lacked love or forgiveness. Today, there still are many evil occurrences but overall people in general are loving and forgiving creatures – and that is due to the Church and Jesus.

February 26, 2013 at 2:31 pm |

Christy

So well put Brian. And I believe eventually the Church will bring back married priests. It's going to happen eventually. And it will be fantastic. There won't be such shortages any more.

Journalist Marco Politi is an ignorant man, and Amanpour’s questions are ridiculous. To imply that the Pope has no leadership skills, and this is why he is stepping down is idiotic beyond belief. The Pope is stepping down because he is 85 years old. Only three Popes in all of papal history have been older. Name one world leader today who is leading a state, church or major international organization who is as old as the Pope or older? Seen in this context, Benedict’s service at his age has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Funny – my post from this morning isn't there! But to a little consolence I could see Germans in Christians programme tonight coming to Rome to visit the last ceremonies of their pope. But where is my comment?

I'm so happy that all of these scandals are finally coming out, all at once, only the followers of the catholic church don't know about how dirty is this organization....... From before Constantine became a pagan Christian. Finally they will fall completely for been against God.

The next Pope should be from Latin-America or from Africa. Enough of Catholic unbalanced college of cardinals . We have had enough of hundreds of centuries of Popes pumping out from western atmosphere. The Papacy is not a position alone for the WHITE catholic MEN, enough of that! For the catholic church to make a real bold statement of change, the Cardinals should make that step by voting in a qualified cardinal from Asia, Latin-America or Africa. Any other thing else this time, would be a trendy orientation towards the unspeakable topic of racism among the elites of the catholic church.So as also to many years of pedophilia denial and guy activities in the catholic church.

"In all, Europe will have 61 electors, or more than half of the total, and North and South America have another 33. The remaining cardinals from Africa, Asia and Oceania will bring only 23 votes combined."

Again why should Europe have 61 Cardinal votes, whereas Africa, Asian and Oceania have just 23 votes. Asian, Africa, and South America have just about two third 2/3 of the world population and also accounted for about 2/3 of all catholics across the globe only have 35 electorial Cardinals. North America with just 16% has 17 electorial Cardinals.

The college of Cardinals is unbalanced and it is not a qualified attribute as to the distribution and representation of the quotas of members of the catholic church across the globe. South America has 28% of all catholics across the world and had only 13 electorial Cardinals. Europe 26.4% has over half of the electorial Cardinals (66) of them.

We already have Oppression by the Western world in the United nation "think of the persistent members of the United Nation security council" not a single "South American nation and not one single African nation". The last place we should again observed such oppression should be in the Catholic Church.

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